If life couldn't get more difficult my husband has now been summoned for Jury service. Aibu to ask how long?

[cultkid]

Hi all
Everything is getting harder and harder
We haven't really been able to get a solid answer on when we will be able to return to work
Now my husband has been summoned to jury service
How long does it typically last? This will be another cost to us 💔
We are self employed at the moment
The country is on lock down and they want to have him in court ? This is crazy
Can he decline based on the fact there is a pandemic

It's usually two weeks though you may get let off early and sometimes cases can run on for much longer. Usually they'll ask for volunteers for cases that are likely to take more than a fortnight.

If a trial ends before the two weeks is up, you are expected to keep coming to court in case there are any other cases available.

You can usually defer once - say the time they want you is inconvenient and you'll do it later. You can't defer a second time though.

Depending on what your self-employment is, this might be a good time to get it out of the way. Otherwise you could defer it, and be called up in a few months when your business has picked up again.

My dad was able to defer due to being self employed

It's been a long time since I've done it but if doing will cause financial hardship, that should be a good enough reason to defer. They do give you some compensation but it's unlikely to be enough.

When has he been called? They wont be able to gather a jury any time soon because of social distancing rules.

@nicelyneurotic for 18th May!!

How does that even work?

From HMCTS webpage current:

Jury service
Jury service is an important civic duty and an essential part of the criminal justice system. Following the latest government advice and the Lord Chief Justice announcement on 23 March 2020 on jury trials, we’re continuing to review the situation.

New jury trials
We need to make sure everyone in our court buildings are kept safe. This means all new jury trials are currently postponed.

Planning for future jury trials
We do not know when jury trials will start again. We’re continuing to send jury summonses to make sure jurors are available when trials do start again in the future.

If you receive, or have already received a jury summons for a future date, please keep planning to attend court. But do not go to court until we have been in touch. We’ll contact you nearer the time to confirm if you still need to attend.

At that stage, if government advice says you need to self-isolate you will not be expected to start your jury service. You will need to contact the court to let us know if you’re self-isolating or there’s another reason why you cannot attend.

If you have just received a jury summons and need to speak to someone about your personal circumstances, please contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau on 0300 456 1024. You can also see our general guidance on jury service.

He should apply to defer on the basis he is self employed and also the pandemic.

See this notice
Crown Courts

www.judiciary.uk/announcements/review-of-court-arrangements-due-to-covid-19-message-from-the-lord-chief-justice/
The below if from the Lord Chief Justice

"1. My unequivocal position is that no jury trials or other physical hearings can take place unless it is safe for them to do so. A particular concern is to ensure social distancing in court and in the court building.

1. This morning no new trials are to start. Jurors summoned for this week are being contacted to ask them to remain at home, and contact the court they are due to attend. They will only be asked to come in for trials where specific arrangements to ensure safety have been put in place. In some cases, this may mean that jurors may be called in to start a new trial later on Monday. All hearings in the Crown Court that can lawfully take place remotely should do so and other hearings not involving a jury should continue if suitable arrangements can be made to ensure distancing.

1. Efforts to bring existing jury trials to a conclusion should continue. Social distancing in accordance with PHE guidelines must be in place at all times and at all places within the court building. Considerable imagination and flexibility may be needed to achieve that. This is already happening in some Crown Courts. HMCTS will continue to work to ensure that safety measures are in place in all parts of the court building in which trials are already taking place. The basic hygiene arrangements urged upon us by the Prime Minister must be available. Resident Judges, with HMCTS staff, will determine whether a trial can safely be continued.

1. If it is necessary to adjourn trials already underway for a short period to put those safety measures in place, this must be done."

Ask what their social distancing policy is. In detail. And what provision will be made for travel - refuse to use public transport.

Thank you all I will review this info with him
What an arse ache